Hampden’s victory over Murrayfield was a tight result

The SFA has struck a £5 million deal to buy the stadium from Queen’s Park

SNS GROUP

Ronnie Esplin

Wednesday September 12 2018, 12.01am, The Times

The Scottish Football Association came “incredibly close” to moving Scotland’s football international matches to BT Murrayfield before agreeing a deal to buy Hampden from Queen’s Park.

Ian Maxwell, chief executive the governing body, hailed a “fantastic day for Scottish football” after it was confirmed that Hampden would remain the home of major internationals and cup semi-finals and finals.

The governing body had been considering taking showpiece games to Edinburgh when its Hampden lease expires in 2020 after an offer from the Scottish Rugby Union. However, the SFA has struck a £5 million deal to buy the stadium from Queen’s Park of Ladbrokes League Two. The club, who have owned the stadium since it opened in 1903, will decant to the adjacent Lesser Hampden.